The Big Lorry to Camper Conversion (3 Viewers)

Minxy

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REWIND REWIND....
IGNORE MY POST ABOVE.

Only just realised that 230ah is PER AGM I fail at reading...

Scrap my calculations (or double the AGM values and redo the figures).. If someone else wants to re write my post correctly and post it below, be my guest I'm not going through it again :D :D
I did notice you weren't very good at reading but didn't like to mention it due to Rule 1 and the fact that I don't want to go to Coventry! :giggle:
 
Last edited:
Feb 27, 2011
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Been on that website a few times when I was thinking about building my own ( got the original idea from Jehu Garcia :D
Better bang for buck came from making the battery out of second life cylindrical cells.
I considered building my own, but they I couldn't find LiFePO4 in 18650 format either new or second hand. I won't put any other chemistry in my van due to fire risk. LiFePO4 is the only one that is safe in my opinion.

I also used to follow Jehu.
 

Two on Tour

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I built my lithium battery pack from used SinoPoly LiFePO4 cells from eBay, as it was the only way I could afford lithium.

1570650932589.png

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Minxy

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StephDeLux

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I don't know why people keep saying this. In my experience (14 years) they have proven to be the most reliable and stable batteries I have owned. They would be my second choice after Lithium.

It will of course depend on one's usage pattern. How deep do you discharge them?
 
Feb 27, 2011
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Any good?

Expensive? Brand new 200Ah cells are only $240

That works out at £240 I believe once you have added the vat on.

I would prefer to buy new and get a warranty.

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Gromett I'm just trying to get my head round this, I assume for a 12v system it would be necessary to have 4 x cells? That would be £960, plus carriage (if not included), plus any import tax, any other bits you'd need to install them. This would give you 800ah of battery power though! :)
 

Riverbankannie

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Just browsing through the forum and noticed that you need an inverter and sallylillian has one for sale, see thread



If anyone wants a 3kw 120amp inverter charger complete with remote and battery monitor I will let the whole package go for £750. Its £2000 list and virtually unused. Ideal for those with a less geeky nature.”
 
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MANGOFORTH

MANGOFORTH

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Gromett I'm just trying to get my head round this, I assume for a 12v system it would be necessary to have 4 x cells? That would be £960, plus carriage (if not included), plus any import tax, any other bits you'd need to install them. This would give you 800ah of battery power though! :)
I can't really understand either. I think when you change the voltage to 12 the amps change to 220......i think I dunno ?‍♂️

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sallylillian

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Just browsing through the forum and noticed that you need an inverter and sallylillian has one for sale, see thread



If anyone wants a 3kw 120amp inverter charger complete with remote and battery monitor I will let the whole package go for £750. Its £2000 list and virtually unused. Ideal for those with a less geeky nature.”
Sorry, I posted a For Sale on here and it sold next day, so gone.
 

Minxy

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I can't really understand either. I think when you change the voltage to 12 the amps change to 220......i think I dunno ?‍♂️
I suppose it could be 200ah at 12v or 800ah at 3v ... confusing ain't it!
 

Two on Tour

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Gromett I'm just trying to get my head round this, I assume for a 12v system it would be necessary to have 4 x cells? That would be £960, plus carriage (if not included), plus any import tax, any other bits you'd need to install them. This would give you 800ah of battery power though! :)

No, the 4 batteries at 3.2 volt joined together in series will bring the pack voltage to 12.8 volt but the capacity remains at 210Ah
Join the 4 batteries in parallel and the voltage remains at 3.2 volts and the capacity goes up to 840Ah.

This might help to explain it.

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/battery-bank-tutorial.html

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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No, the 4 batteries at 3.2 volt joined together in series will bring the pack voltage to 12.8 volt but the capacity remains at 210Ah
Join the 4 batteries in parallel and the voltage remains at 3.2 volts and the capacity goes up to 840Ah.

This might help to explain it.

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/battery-bank-tutorial.html
Yup I realised that earlier ?
I suppose it could be 200ah at 12v or 800ah at 3v ... confusing ain't it!
 
Aug 5, 2018
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I can't really understand either. I think when you change the voltage to 12 the amps change to 220......i think I dunno ?‍♂️
Much easier to use watts and watt hours really as watts are watts whether its 2v or 240v (at the appliance end)
 
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MANGOFORTH

MANGOFORTH

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I just did a video, any idea how I upload it?

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Aug 5, 2018
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upload to Youtube, go to "studio" in settings drop down, choose the video thumbnail and change public to unlisted if you only want it available to be seen here!
 
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that was four hours ago :LOL: come on lad, are you still on dialup out there :D

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Dec 18, 2010
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Where in Norwich are you?

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Aug 6, 2013
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I can't really understand either. I think when you change the voltage to 12 the amps change to 220......i think I dunno ?‍♂️
No - connected in series the Ah capacity stays the same & you multiply the volts by the number of cells.

Edit: already clarified :doh:
 
Oct 2, 2008
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In my RV the 4 x 6v 235ah were connected in series and parallel to give 12v and 470 ah That should help make it easier to understand . :)
 
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MANGOFORTH

MANGOFORTH

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Right I need to clarify that I am stupid. That doesn't make it any easier. I'm just going to continue to ignore the electrics untill I need to do it ??

Mr Ed why are you going to spy on me ??

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Minxy

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In my RV the 4 x 6v 235ah were connected in series and parallel to give 12v and 470 ah That should help make it easier to understand . :)
Right I need to clarify that I am stupid. That doesn't make it any easier. I'm just going to continue to ignore the electrics untill I need to do it ??

Okay, here goes!

Each of his batteries is 6v and 235ah capacity

To make them usable as 12v he needed to link 2 together in series:

2 x 6v = 12v but the ah rating stays the same at 235ah​

In effect he's used 2 x 6v ones to make a single 12v 235 ah battery.

He then made another one:

2 x 6v = 12v @ 235ah, so now has in effect 2 x 12v 235ah batteries.​

He then connected the 2 x 12v batteries in parallel so the voltage stays at 12v but the ah rating is doubled:

(6v + 6v) + (6v + 6v) = 2 @ 12v​
2 x 12v @ 235ah = 470ah​

It's a bit early for me but I think that's right!
 
Dec 18, 2010
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Right I need to clarify that I am stupid. That doesn't make it any easier. I'm just going to continue to ignore the electrics untill I need to do it ??

Mr Ed why are you going to spy on me ??

not trying to spy,just wondered, North,South,East or West?
 
Oct 2, 2008
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Right I need to clarify that I am stupid. That doesn't make it any easier. I'm just going to continue to ignore the electrics untill I need to do it ??

Mr Ed why are you going to spy on me ??
i was making a little joke , but once you see how it works out it should help make it a little clearer .
Thanks Minxy Girl

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bigtwin

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Okay, here goes!

Each of his batteries is 6v and 235ah capacity

To make them usable as 12v he needed to link 2 together in series:

2 x 6v = 12v but the ah rating stays the same at 235ah​

In effect he's used 2 x 6v ones to make a single 12v 235 ah battery.

He then made another one:

2 x 6v = 12v @ 235ah, so now has in effect 2 x 12v 235ah batteries.​

He then connected the 2 x 12v batteries in parallel so the voltage stays at 12v but the ah rating is doubled:

(6v + 6v) + (6v + 6v) = 2 @ 12v​
2 x 12v @ 235ah = 470ah​

It's a bit early for me but I think that's right!

A good, clear, explanation.

Ian
 
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MANGOFORTH

MANGOFORTH

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Progress is so slow. We have to move house AGAIN, such a pain as I've had loads of ply ect delivered ?. Very much focused on the rest of life atm so our Halloween deadline is out the window.

Finally got round to bolting it down, no need to sit up worrying about strong winds anymore. Think my camera is covered in some form of poo, hence the rubbish quality.
1571334213618.jpg

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